Legco president Jasper Tsang looks for rule change to end filibusters

Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing is pressing for action to find a way to cut short filibusters, the delaying tactics used by lawmakers to block government proposals.

He has called for a meeting with the Legislative Council's rules of procedure committee to discuss two suggestions to end a filibuster - by allowing lawmakers to put forward a closure motion, or by setting a time limit for a debate.

Tsang is keen to avoid a repeat of the filibustering tactics used last year by radical legislators to attempt to block a budget bill.

There is a chance it could happen again when Legco is asked to approve a proposal in Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's policy address last week to set up an innovation and technology bureau.

"The responsibility for ending a filibuster currently falls on the Legco president, but it will trigger something more serious sooner or later," Tsang said.

He said Legco should introduce new rules so that lawmakers - instead of the Legco president - would decide when and how to end a filibuster.

Last year radical pan-democratic lawmakers initiated a marathon filibuster by submitting more than 700 amendments to the budget bill in their fight for a universal pension. Tsang eventually ended the 109-hour-long debate by citing Rule 92 of the Legco rules of procedure, which authorises the president to act "as he thinks fit" in scenarios where no procedure has been set.